The Scientific World Journal

Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 901432, 13 pages

http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/901432

Research Article

Hydrochemistry of the Hot Springs in Western Sichuan Province Related to the Wenchuan 8.0 Earthquake

Zhi Chen,1,2 Jianguo Du,² Xiaocheng Zhou,² Li Yi,² Lei Liu,² Chao Xie,² Yueju Cui,² and Ying Li²

¹School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China

²CEA Key Laboratory of Earthquake Prediction (Institute of Earthquake Science), China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100036, China

Received 1 January 2014; Accepted 5 February 2014; Published 5 May 2014

Academic Editors: J. Glodny, P. C. McGuire, and L. Tosi

Copyright © 2014 Zhi Chen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Hydrogeochemistry of 32 hot springs in the western Sichuan Province after the Wenchuan 8.0 earthquake was investigated by analyzing the concentrations of cation and anion and the isotopic compositions of hydrogen and oxygen. The water samples of the hot springs were collected four times from June 2008 to April 2010. Hydrogeochemical data indicated the water samples can be classified into 9 chemical types. Values of δD and δ ¹⁸O indicated that the spring waters were mainly derived from meteoric precipitation and affected by water-rock interaction and mixture of deep fluids. Concentrations of K+ and of the samples from the Kangding district exhibited evident increases before the Wenchuan earthquake, indicating more supplement of deep fluids under the increase of tectonic stress. The chemical and isotopic variations of the water samples from the area closer to the epicenter area can be attributed to variation of regional stress field when the aftershock activities became weak.

1. Introduction

Great earthquakes usually associate with the physical-chemical variations of groundwater and hot springs. The short-term hydrogeochemical precursors for earthquake [1–4], co-seismic response of hydrochemistry [5, 6] and postseismic geochemical and isotopic changes of hot springs have been reported [7–12].

The observed geochemical anomalies related to earthquakes are usually attributed to the alteration of groundwater in the circulating system under the action of increasing crustal stress before and after earthquakes [6, 7, 13, 14]. For understanding the hydrogeochemical anomalies related to earthquakes, some genetic mechanism models have been proposed, such as increased solubility of rocks under increased pressure and release of ions from rocks into water [15], pore collapse with fluids expulsion [8], the water-rock interactions at the enhanced reactive surfaces [16], aquifers rupture with mixing of different fluids [6] and expulsion of deep fluids by tectonic pumping [1].

Hydrogeochemical survey of hot springs in western Sichuan before the 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake mainly focused on the origin of waters, the pollutions, the chemical classifications and the heat reservoirs in the sites surrounding Kangding county [17–25].

The 8.0 earthquake occurred in Wenchuan county, Sichuan province, Southwest China on 12 May, 2008, following by hundreds of aftershocks with magnitudes higher than 3.0.

In order to investigate the hydrogeochemical characteristics of the springs related to the seismic activities, the hydrogeochemical survey of 32 hot springs in the western Sichuan were performed four times from June 2008 to April 2010.

2. Geological Setting

The investigated area is located at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, in which there are four major fault zones named as Minjiang fault (MJF), Longmenshan fault (LMSF), Xianshuihe fault (XSHF) and Anninghe fault (ANHF) zones (Figure 1) where earthquakes frequently occurred [26].Triassic littoral-neritic clastic rocks interbeded with carbonate and intrusive granite are exposed in the west of the LMSF and ANHF zones, but the strata from Late Paleozoic to Cenozoic are widespread exposed in the LMSF and ANHF zones and on the east of the fault zones, and granite is found in the intersection of the LMSF, XSHF and ANHF zones [27–30]. The fault zones act as the important passage for upward migration of thermal fluids from the deep earth, which is indicated by distribution of many hot springs in the MJF, LMSF, XSHF and ANHF zones (Figure 1). Historically, a number of great earthquakes have occurred in the investigated area since 1800. For instance, the 1850 7.5 Xichang earthquake occurred in the ANHF zone, two 7.2 earthquakes of 16 and 23 August 1976 in the MJF zone, the 7.5 one of 25 August 1933 in the LMSF zone, and the 7.5 one of 1955 and the 7.9 one of 1973 in the XSHF zone [12]. The 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake resulted in a 285 km surface rupture zone along the pre-existing Yingxiu-Beichuan, Guanxian-Anxian and Qingchuan faults, with the maximum vertical surface offset of about 6.2 m [31].

Figure 1: Schematic map of geology in western Sichuan Province, showing the sample locations, and earthquake epicenters, the insert figure is time-magnitude plot for aftershocks with , red lines are active faults.

3. Methods

Water samples were repeatedly collected four times (in June and October 2008, June 2009, and April 2010) at 32 sites of spas, wells, and springs (Figure 1) in the MJF, LMSF, XSHF, and ANHF zones. The samples were sealed and stored in 500 mL glass bottles. The values of temperature were measured with a digital thermometer with an error of ±1% in the field. Isotopic compositions of δD and δ ¹⁸O were measured with a Picarro L1102 mass spectrometer in the Laboratory of Gas Geochemistry, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Lanzhou, and the errors are 0.5 for δD and 0.1 for δ ¹⁸O, respectively. The concentrations of cations (K⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺) and anions (F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, , and ) were determined with the Dionex ICS-900 ion chromatography (reproducibility within ±2%) that is installed in the Institute of Earthquake Science, China Earthquake Administration. The and concentrations were measured by the standard titration procedures with a ZDJ-100 potentiometric titrator (reproducibility within ±2%). The ion balance (ib) was calculated according to the following equation [11]:

4. Results

The physicochemical parameters of the 32 springs were listed in Table 1. No water samples were collected from the springs of nos. 2 and 24–26 in June 2008 because the springs were damaged by the Wenchuan earthquake. No samples were collected from the springs nos. 8 and 29 in April 2010 and the spring no. 28 in June 2009 and April 2010 because of the postearthquake reconstruction. The ion balance values of measured chemical data were calculated to be less than 5% (Table 1).

Table 1: Physicochemical parameters of the 32 hot spring waters.

Number
Site
L 

(E)

(N)
Date

°C
TDS

mg/L
K⁺ 

mg/L
Na⁺ 

mg/L
Ca²⁺ 

mg/L
Mg²⁺ 

mg/L
Cl⁻ 

mg/L

mg/L

mg/L

mg/L
ib 

%
δ 18O 

δD 

Chemical type

The LMSF zone

1
Sangzao Spring
104.35
31.61
11.06.2008
19.0
557.43
2.67
64.78
73.27
12.27
64.74
108.24
0.00
229.38
−0.01
−6.18
−61.66
CaNa–HCO₃SO₄

01.11.2008
19.1
394.07
2.68
41.92
55.57
12.90
30.39
72.65
0.00
175.98
0.02
−9.79
−69.63
CaNa–HCO₃SO₄

01.07.2009
19.7
367.75
2.60
40.26
50.64
12.04
30.57
71.52
0.00
158.27
0.02
−9.87
−68.40
CaNa–HCO₃SO₄

22.04.2010
19.5
361.94
2.61
37.63
45.01
12.88
30.45
65.72
0.00
166.74
0.00
−9.96
−70.34
CaNa–HCO₃SO₄

2
Wenchuan Well
103.77
31.63
10.06.2008
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.

21.10.2008
15.4
1569.81
4.21
71.65
182.01
128.73
47.39
878.08
0.00
248.12
−0.01
−8.37
−72.01
MgCa–SO₄

29.06.2009
15.5
1128.39
4.35
61.72
151.53
80.38
29.51
720.73
0.00
70.05
0.00
−10.14
−73.78
MgCa–SO₄

20.04.2010
10.8
1033.14
4.55
54.99
137.22
70.43
30.47
687.83
0.00
46.65
−0.01
−10.02
−73.11
MgCa–SO₄

3
Lixian Well
103.59
31.48
09.06.2008
32.9
1579.54
5.64
35.95
252.78
103.76
8.15
862.32
0.00
310.70
0.00
−9.53
−80.88
CaMg–SO₄

22.10.2008
29.5
1195.08
5.00
37.29
182.66
78.59
7.82
812.50
0.00
68.47
−0.01
−11.75
−81.76
CaMg–SO₄

29.06.2009
27.1
1105.85
5.44
37.91
161.15
76.82
7.90
780.09
0.00
34.00
−0.01
−11.01
−82.13
CaMg–SO₄

20.04.2010
29.5
1025.28
5.72
36.15
146.64
69.97
7.48
741.96
0.00
14.63
−0.02
−11.62
−80.88
CaMg–SO₄

4
Guergou Spring
103.17
31.46
11.06.2008
n.d.
349.33
2.33
91.11
5.24
0.80
2.58
21.76
0.00
223.52
0.00
−11.74
−116.81
Na–HCO₃

21.10.2008
58.0
246.71
2.23
60.76
4.74
0.83
2.45
21.33
0.00
150.62
−0.01
−14.42
−116.49
Na–HCO₃

28.06.2009
56.0
240.49
2.18
54.36
5.22
0.83
2.61
22.63
0.00
150.62
−0.03
−16.27
−116.99
Na–HCO₃

19.04.2010
55.8
151.69
2.19
29.82
4.76
0.82
2.31
22.16
0.00
88.13
−0.05
−16.34
−116.65
Na–HCO₃

5
Jiuzhaigou Spring
103.00
31.52
11.06.2008
30.5
837.83
9.06
202.49
26.48
20.48
60.83
237.79
0.00
272.78
0.01
−14.01
−107.26
Na–HCO₃SO₄

21.10.2008
32.1
813.62
9.15
189.00
26.01
20.66
64.16
225.51
0.00
272.34
0.01
−13.59
−106.10
Na–HCO₃SO₄

28.06.2009
32.0
739.07
8.86
163.55
28.71
20.55
10.28
232.20
0.00
270.10
0.02
−14.57
−106.62
Na–HCO₃SO₄

19.04.2010
27.3
728.04
8.75
150.98
26.73
20.41
9.65
241.18
0.00
267.84
0.00
−13.95
−106.54
Na–HCO₃SO₄

The MJF zone

6
Erdaohai Spring
103.32
32.73
08.06.2008
21.6
505.34
1.34
8.75
85.17
25.73
0.93
3.80
0.00
379.30
0.02
−13.72
−102.42
CaMg–HCO₃

22.10.2008
20.7
511.71
1.32
8.80
84.02
25.05
0.98
4.08
0.00
386.99
0.01
−14.39
−102.46
CaMg–HCO₃

29.06.2009
20.0
464.18
1.22
8.57
77.24
23.35
1.02
3.78
0.00
348.94
0.02
−14.57
−103.88
CaMg–HCO₃

21.04.2010
19.8
428.70
1.27
8.21
76.73
23.23
0.97
3.56
0.00
313.61
0.04
−14.39
−103.29
CaMg–HCO₃

7
Kakagou Spring
103.68
32.98
08.06.2008
18.7
914.21
5.11
25.23
160.21
31.45
2.05
10.98
0.00
678.66
0.01
−13.56
−101.05
Ca–HCO₃

23.10.2008
19.7
876.14
4.92
24.08
154.12
30.74
1.93
10.86
0.00
648.69
0.01
−13.37
−101.92
Ca–HCO₃

30.06.2009
21.7
873.30
4.84
23.93
142.67
28.67
2.07
10.83
0.00
660.16
−0.01
−14.04
−100.46
Ca–HCO₃

21.04.2010
19.7
815.42
4.79
23.55
134.00
31.65
1.84
10.33
0.00
608.89
0.01
−14.12
−101.80
Ca–HCO₃

8
Chuanpanqiao

Spring
103.64
32.85
08.06.2008
8.8
1657.61
6.36
21.82
97.82
182.62
10.78
12.54
0.00
1324.27
−0.01
−14.20
−112.00
Mg–HCO₃

23.10.2008
9.6
1598.09
6.52
21.88
103.64
183.57
10.56
12.72
0.00
1258.08
0.00
−14.30
−112.48
Mg–HCO₃

30.06.2009
10.7
1557.18
5.89
21.68
103.79
175.29
10.55
11.54
0.00
1228.08
0.00
−15.34
−112.23
Mg–HCO₃

21.04.2010
10.7
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
−14.95
−113.33
n.d.

9
Songpan Well
103.60
32.65
08.06.2008
9.0
647.31
1.64
14.05
55.71
65.01
2.34
17.78
0.00
490.23
0.01
−13.25
−101.54
MgCa–HCO₃

23.10.2008
9.9
648.33
1.60
14.12
52.12
65.27
2.17
16.32
0.00
496.23
0.00
−13.43
−102.82
MgCa–HCO₃

30.06.2009
9.3
610.38
1.57
13.93
49.54
65.43
2.25
16.24
0.00
461.42
0.02
−13.20
−102.20
MgCa–HCO₃

21.04.2010
9.9
603.35
1.60
13.81
50.12
62.90
2.48
15.96
0.00
456.23
0.02
−13.77
−102.09
MgCa–HCO₃

The XSHF zone

10
Ganzi Well
100.00
31.62
12.06.2008
27.8
441.46
3.42
49.07
38.84
19.07
4.04
44.27
0.00
281.36
0.00
−15.93
−125.50
NaCa–HCO₃

24.10.2008
29.8
447.22
3.53
47.97
37.51
19.97
3.94
43.44
0.00
289.54
−0.01
−16.48
−125.21
NaCa–HCO₃

27.06.2009
29.6
416.83
3.43
47.91
37.39
19.13
4.06
43.34
0.00
260.25
0.01
−16.17
−125.79
NaCa–HCO₃

18.04.2010
29.2
472.24
3.33
50.76
38.72
19.97
3.80
40.17
0.00
314.28
−0.01
−16.15
−125.75
NaCa–HCO₃

11
Ganzi Spring
100.00
31.61
12.06.2008
43.1
735.04
8.95
154.67
23.95
16.42
6.38
62.15
0.00
459.17
0.01
−16.33
−124.72
Na–HCO₃

24.10.2008
41.5
731.75
9.08
150.20
23.13
16.34
6.19
60.61
0.00
461.22
0.00
−16.28
−124.30
Na–HCO₃

27.06.2009
43.0
695.04
9.17
146.66
22.34
16.44
6.00
61.79
0.00
427.90
0.01
−16.45
−126.00
Na–HCO₃

18.04.2010
41.4
706.99
9.29
138.30
21.87
16.42
6.17
63.67
0.00
447.27
−0.01
−16.29
−124.46
Na–HCO₃

12
Guyi

Spring
100.80
31.27
13.06.2008
35.5
2218.75
12.68
607.07
11.30
21.81
6.09
12.25
142.80
1399.60
0.01
−16.38
−130.98
Na–HCO₃

25.10.2008
31.3
2353.19
13.13
619.72
11.36
22.19
5.73
11.62
142.80
1524.39
0.00
−16.16
−131.17
Na–HCO₃

26.06.2009
33.2
2239.88
12.63
593.59
10.33
21.82
6.11
11.60
157.21
1424.29
−0.01
−16.97
−132.52
Na–HCO₃

18.04.2010
28.2
2366.42
12.63
619.91
10.01
21.31
5.95
12.35
108.56
1573.76
0.00
−16.56
−131.90
Na–HCO₃

13
Longpugou Spring 1
101.24
30.98
13.06.2008
37.8
1180.32
7.16
310.06
11.00
8.23
13.83
6.83
0.00
820.21
0.01
−16.74
−137.69
Na–HCO₃

25.10.2008
37.2
1199.61
6.96
288.86
11.69
7.90
13.02
6.81
0.00
860.75
−0.01
−17.02
−136.73
Na–HCO₃

26.06.2009
39.2
1164.18
6.90
280.27
11.28
7.80
13.27
6.61
0.00
836.33
−0.01
−17.41
−137.71
Na–HCO₃

18.04.2010
36.5
1145.60
6.83
281.70
11.16
7.85
12.98
6.56
0.00
815.75
−0.01
−17.47
−138.90
Na–HCO₃

14
Longpugou

Spring 2
101.24
30.95
13.06.2008
44.5
1070.89
6.47
221.80
18.30
26.65
8.85
10.09
57.10
719.87
−0.02
−16.85
−134.42
Na–HCO₃

25.10.2008
42.5
927.46
6.93
205.03
18.90
26.11
8.28
9.78
0.00
650.41
0.02
−17.52
−134.80
Na–HCO₃

26.06.2009
42.5
900.81
6.67
198.93
17.43
25.73
8.39
9.33
0.00
634.33
0.02
−16.63
−133.90
Na–HCO₃

18.04.2010
43.2
919.25
6.48
176.77
18.84
25.93
8.53
9.63
0.00
671.47
−0.01
−17.61
−133.70
Na–HCO₃

15
Bamei Spring
101.62
30.54
14.06.2008
55.2
1966.85
76.60
443.00
15.17
29.06
23.77
6.78
0.00
1368.29
0.01
−17.34
−135.61
Na–HCO₃

25.10.2008
55.6
1913.45
75.22
417.08
14.76
28.42
20.55
7.00
0.00
1346.62
0.00
−17.57
−134.51
Na–HCO₃

26.06.2009
56.0
2068.93
77.29
463.31
14.32
26.66
20.58
6.81
0.00
1456.10
0.00
−17.54
−135.81
Na–HCO₃

17.04.2010
55.6
2724.13
74.40
679.23
14.49
29.42
20.55
7.12
0.00
1894.64
0.02
−17.89
−134.41
Na–HCO₃

16
Guanding Spring
101.96
29.98
15.06.2008
80.5
1306.05
41.23
396.79
13.16
13.21
336.16
51.96
11.34
440.26
0.02
−14.24
−117.01
Na–ClHCO₃

26.10.2008
80.0
1395.37
40.57
367.22
13.41
13.64
328.54
50.02
92.82
485.48
−0.03
−15.26
−118.02
Na–ClHCO₃

25.06.2009
83.0
1353.81
42.72
367.40
13.67
13.50
320.93
49.72
99.82
443.09
−0.02
−17.02
−127.74
Na–ClHCO₃

17.04.2010
83.0
1273.60
41.52
349.71
13.80
13.81
300.83
50.63
56.00
447.24
−0.01
−16.13
−123.72
Na–ClHCO₃

17
Longtougou Spring
101.96
29.98
15.06.2008
70.8
2044.87
53.20
510.82
16.02
31.42
220.68
8.33
0.00
1200.36
0.01
−15.99
−128.69
Na–HCO₃

26.10.2008
70.2
2106.82
52.72
518.38
17.41
30.95
203.66
8.59
0.00
1270.92
0.00
−16.26
−127.78
Na–HCO₃

25.06.2009
73.1
2025.87
52.27
516.68
16.71
30.84
226.15
8.30
0.00
1171.25
0.01
−16.61
−128.57
Na–HCO₃

17.04.2010
70.2
2096.92
51.62
507.94
16.33
31.09
207.55
8.30
0.00
1270.92
0.00
−17.04
−130.94
Na–HCO₃

18
Zheduotang Spring
101.86
30.01
15.06.2008
54.5
681.59
3.13
208.79
4.87
0.12
10.55
17.57
67.83
342.06
−0.01
−18.06
−138.80
Na–HCO₃

26.10.2008
53.8
705.52
3.14
219.83
4.38
0.12
10.57
17.31
85.68
338.08
−0.01
−18.21
−137.20
Na–HCO₃

25.06.2009
53.4
650.33
3.04
207.09
4.44
0.12
9.59
16.57
35.89
346.59
0.01
−18.64
−141.98
Na–HCO₃

17.04.2010
53.8
663.17
2.87
208.84
4.72
0.12
9.76
16.42
88.25
305.09
−0.02
−18.84
−139.88
Na–HCO₃

19
Erdaoqiao Spring
101.95
30.09
15.06.2008
39.1
843.39
23.54
150.53
22.10
44.05
43.88
114.59
0.00
443.52
0.02
−14.50
−112.90
NaMg–HCO₃

26.10.2008
39.4
919.66
22.47
150.67
22.08
44.68
40.36
107.06
0.00
530.93
0.00
−14.54
−112.16
NaMg–HCO₃

26.06.2009
40.6
926.35
22.36
146.31
20.20
44.48
43.92
109.47
0.00
538.41
−0.02
−15.57
−115.14
NaMg–HCO₃

16.04.2010
40.6
935.65
23.67
157.07
20.93
43.76
40.97
111.59
0.00
535.44
0.00
−15.01
−115.35
NaMg–HCO₃

20
Xinxing Spring
102.06
29.75
16.06.2008
45.6
1287.50
9.41
422.66
12.53
9.69
148.03
28.85
106.33
545.15
0.03
−15.90
−115.30
Na–HCO₃

27.10.2008
44.1
1167.77
9.68
365.04
12.75
9.43
144.03
24.65
0.00
597.19
0.05
−15.53
−115.83
Na–HCO₃

24.06.2009
42.8
1289.88
9.23
360.63
11.97
9.36
148.41
24.07
124.73
597.17
−0.02
−15.63
−114.96
Na–HCO₃

23.04.2010
48.2
1038.46
9.19
303.10
12.04
8.98
156.23
21.31
0.00
523.35
0.02
−15.21
−115.86
Na–HCO₃

21
Gonghe Spring
102.11
30.62
16.06.2008
48.8
578.15
9.94
108.43
19.30
22.06
18.44
60.27
0.00
337.54
0.01
−11.91
−88.74
Na–HCO₃

27.10.2008
47.6
598.18
10.03
106.53
20.12
22.07
17.83
60.07
0.00
359.48
0.00
−12.40
−90.07
Na–HCO₃

24.06.2009
50.0
610.23
9.57
107.62
18.49
21.27
17.36
65.08
0.00
368.95
−0.01
−12.49
−89.29
Na–HCO₃

23.04.2010
44.8
585.91
9.41
111.76
19.32
21.47
17.85
64.11
0.00
339.32
0.01
−12.33
−89.00
Na–HCO₃

22
Erhaoying Spring
102.03
29.59
17.06.2008
65.5
597.31
18.34
154.11
13.45
4.62
37.14
59.30
0.00
307.61
0.02
−14.22
−105.92
Na–HCO₃

27.10.2008
67.4
645.11
18.25
156.50
13.48
4.64
36.80
62.21
0.00
349.86
0.00
−14.31
−109.95
Na–HCO₃

25.06.2009
63.0
585.59
18.53
153.02
13.20
4.72
35.31
62.43
0.00
295.11
0.03
−15.13
−108.27
Na–HCO₃

24.04.2010
67.4
631.67
18.29
150.44
13.01
4.75
35.97
59.85
0.00
348.99
0.00
−15.27
−108.87
Na–HCO₃

23
Tianwanhe Spring
102.14
29.49
17.06.2008
53.0
613.88
17.60
76.93
13.10
45.32
24.61
152.25
0.00
281.49
−0.01
−10.31
−79.22
NaMg–HCO₃SO₄

25.10.2009
n.d.
632.23
16.92
73.37
12.74
45.71
23.42
139.62
0.00
317.73
−0.02
−10.04
−78.77
NaMg–HCO₃SO₄

24.06.2009
54.0
611.73
17.58
79.12
12.81
43.62
24.91
145.24
0.00
286.45
−0.01
−10.50
−83.14
NaMg–HCO₃SO₄

24.04.2010
53.2
644.79
17.44
79.11
12.71
44.44
25.65
145.44
0.00
317.73
−0.02
−10.59
−80.38
NaMg–HCO₃SO₄

24
Caoke Spring
102.10
29.39
18.06.2008
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.

28.10.2008
41.4
407.78
3.00
48.74
50.10
6.19
3.97
155.60
0.00
139.19
−0.02
−12.38
−88.30
CaNa–SO₄HCO₃

24.06.2009
42.9
363.08
2.97
46.19
44.43
6.11
3.94
160.52
0.00
98.05
−0.01
−12.50
−91.09
CaNa–SO₄HCO₃

24.04.2010
41.4
369.36
3.03
46.29
45.63
6.17
3.57
161.87
0.00
101.89
−0.02
−12.59
−90.94
CaNa–SO₄HCO₃

25
Shimian Well
102.22
29.44
18.06.2008
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.

28.10.2008
30.4
150.26
2.35
38.60
6.99
1.20
2.58
17.82
0.00
69.62
0.00
−11.08
−87.15
Na–HCO₃

23.06.2009
31.3
149.10
2.39
37.61
6.46
1.23
2.44
17.29
0.00
70.79
0.00
−11.28
−90.21
Na–HCO₃

24.04.2010
31.2
137.77
2.34
35.14
6.86
1.20
2.35
17.16
0.00
62.48
0.01
−10.51
−88.94
Na–HCO₃

The ANHF zone

26
Gongyihai Spring
102.39
29.02
18.06.2008
56.9
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
−14.23
−108.54
n.d.

28.10.2008
54.1
320.27
3.34
109.14
2.37
1.00
1.91
46.17
0.00
82.11
0.00
−14.19
−108.67
Na–HCO₃SO₄

23.06.2009
55.4
306.82
3.37
100.47
2.40
1.01
1.99
48.14
0.00
81.95
−0.01
−14.83
−110.47
Na–HCO₃SO₄

24.04.2010
56.4
323.92
3.23
113.91
2.44
1.02
3.80
47.98
0.00
88.81
0.02
−14.82
−110.20
Na–HCO₃SO₄

27
Chuanxin Spring
102.36
28.26
19.06.2008
n.d.
462.71
4.80
86.08
15.24
11.55
5.52
12.67
0.00
325.96
−0.01
−13.46
−106.54
Na–HCO₃

28.10.2008
n.d.
449.48
4.25
86.72
15.29
11.45
5.18
12.44
0.00
311.73
0.45
−13.32
−106.98
Na–HCO₃

23.06.2009
49.0
483.93
4.23
85.56
13.75
10.18
4.66
12.00
0.00
351.73
−0.04
−14.51
−108.29
Na–HCO₃

24.04.2010
45.1
456.34
4.23
85.46
13.21
9.52
4.72
12.74
0.00
325.14
−0.02
−13.41
−107.37
Na–HCO₃

28
Taihe Spring
102.14
27.91
19.06.2008
21.1
226.41
0.69
58.65
4.03
0.76
1.99
12.76
0.00
146.70
0.01
−13.37
−106.65
Na–HCO₃

29.10.2008
21.1
206.70
0.66
53.56
4.02
0.00
1.91
12.72
0.00
132.20
0.00
−13.31
−106.32
Na–HCO₃

n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.

n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.

29
Xichang Well
102.15
27.91
19.06.2008
22.3
261.87
0.31
78.93
2.08
0.81
21.78
15.22
0.00
137.09
0.01
−13.78
−106.89
Na–HCO₃

29.10.2008
n.d.
229.28
0.32
71.76
2.15
0.85
21.32
15.22
0.00
112.05
0.02
−13.23
−106.64
Na–HCO₃

22.06.2009
24.2
238.13
0.33
69.68
2.00
0.81
21.38
15.65
0.00
123.05
0.00
−13.24
−106.07
Na–HCO₃

n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.

30
Zhuhexiang

Spring
102.93
28.07
19.06.2008
49.8
256.45
4.65
54.62
13.18
2.42
3.99
11.97
0.00
161.91
0.02
−12.62
−100.01
Na–HCO₃

29.10.2008
49.7
248.22
4.57
51.93
13.39
2.35
3.91
12.22
0.00
154.30
0.00
−12.67
−100.50
Na–HCO₃

22.06.2009
49.8
244.72
4.27
50.23
13.75
2.36
3.96
12.05
0.00
152.89
0.00
−13.53
−99.12
Na–HCO₃

26.04.2010
48.0
255.93
4.27
50.17
13.26
2.44
3.80
12.31
0.00
167.97
0.00
−12.86
−100.54
Na–HCO₃

31
Lizhouzhen

Spring
102.24
28.09
19.06.2008
n.d.
331.37
14.12
54.16
30.00
0.00
5.52
11.33
0.00
212.12
0.01
−14.48
−110.35
NaCa–HCO₃

29.10.2008
48.1
326.67
14.66
52.79
30.77
0.00
5.38
11.34
0.00
210.92
0.02
−14.71
−110.23
NaCa–HCO₃

22.06.2009
49.0
323.38
13.37
48.45
29.36
0.00
6.14
10.93
0.00
210.00
−0.01
−14.11
−110.74
NaCa–HCO₃

25.04.2010
48.6
321.73
14.08
49.49
29.49
0.00
5.45
11.06
0.00
209.92
0.00
−14.63
−110.06
NaCa–HCO₃

32
Luojishan

Spring
102.54
27.40
20.06.2008
n.d.
1212.86
49.31
208.79
81.48
29.43
136.74
257.26
0.00
449.06
0.00
−11.76
−96.43
Na–HCO₃SO₄

29.10.2008
43.7
1172.03
46.80
213.50
81.42
28.43
135.47
255.58
0.00
407.06
0.01
−11.64
−96.10
Na–HCO₃SO₄

22.06.2009
43.8
1150.63
46.67
213.09
71.12
26.07
135.76
244.07
0.00
412.82
0.01
−13.41
−96.20
Na–HCO₃SO₄

25.04.2010
43.8
1127.84
43.86
200.41
73.26
26.02
135.37
252.58
0.00
395.58
0.00
−13.18
−96.77
Na–HCO₃SO₄

The “n.d.” represents samples not analysed.

4.1. Physicochemical Parameters of the Springs in the LMSF Zone

The water samples from in the LMSF zone have δ ¹⁸O and δD values between −16.34 and −6.18, −116.65 and −61.66, respectively. The temperatures and TDS ranged from 10.5 to 58.0°C and 151.69 to 1569.81 mg/L. The concentrations of Na⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ varied from 29.82 to 202.49 mg/L, 4.74 to 252.78 mg/L, and 0.80 to 128.73 mg/L, respectively. The concentrations of Cl⁻, , and varied from 2.31 to 64.74 mg/L, 21.33 to 878.08 mg/L, and 14.63 to 310.70 mg/L respectively (Table 1).

4.2. Physicochemical Parameters of the Springs in the MJF Zone

Fifteen water samples were collected from the sites nos. 6–9 in the MJF zone, of which the δ ¹⁸O and δD were between −15.34% and −13.20%, −112.23% and −102.20%, the values of temperatures and TDS ranged from 8.8 to 21.7°C and 505.34 to 1657.61 mg/L. The concentrations of Na⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ ranged from 8.75 to 25.23 mg/L, 49.54 to 183.57 mg/L, and 23.23 to 183.57 mg/L, and the concentrations of Cl⁻, , and from 0.93 to 10.78 mg/L, 3.56 to 17.78 mg/L, and 313.61 to 1324.27 mg/L separately (Table 1).

4.3. Physicochemical Parameters of the Springs in the XSHF Zone

Sixty-two water samples were collected from the sites nos. 10–25 in the XSHF zone, of which δ ¹⁸O and δD varied from −18.84 to −10.04 and −141.98 to −78.77. The values of temperatures and TDS ranged from 27.8 to 83.0°C and 427.53 to 2159.43 mg/L, respectively. The concentrations of Na⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ ranged from 35.14 to 679.23 mg/L, 4.38 to 50.10 mg/L, and 0.12 to 45.71 mg/L, respectively. The concentrations of Cl⁻, , and ranged from 2.35 to 336.16 mg/L, 6.56 to 161.87 mg/L, and 62.48 to 1894.64 mg/L, respectively (Table 1).

4.4. Physicochemical Parameters of the Springs in the ANHF Zone

Twenty-four water samples were collected from the sites nos. 26–32 in the ANHF zone, of which the δ ¹⁸O and δD were between −11.64 and −96.10, −110.47 and −102.20. The temperatures of the spring waters were between 21.1 and 56.9°C, the TDS were between 206.70 and 1212.86 mg/L. The concentrations of Na⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ ranged from 50.17 to 213.50 mg/L, 2.00 to 81.48 mg/L, and 0.00 to 29.43 mg/L, and the concentrations of Cl⁻, , and from 1.91 to 136.74 mg/L, 10.94 to 257.26 mg/L, and 81.95 to 449.06 mg/L, respectively (Table 1).

5. Discussion

5.1. Chemical Types of the Waters and Their Origins

5.1.1. The Chemical Types

The triangular diagrams in Figure 2 illustrated the proportions of the anionic (Cl⁻, , and ) and cationic (K⁺ + Na⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺) concentrations of the water samples from the 32 sites. The anions and cations of the water samples were mainly distributed in blocks i, ii, and iii, indicating that Na⁺, Ca²⁺, , and were the main chemical composition for most of the samples. Based on the Shoka Lev’s classification method, the water samples were classified into 9 chemical types according to the main chemical composition, which are Na(Ca)-HCO₃(SO₄), Na(Mg)-HCO₃(SO₄), Ca(Na)-HCO₃(SO₄), Mg(Ca)-SO₄, Ca(Mg)-SO₄, Ca(Mg)-HCO₃, Mg(Ca)-HCO₃, Na-Cl(HCO₃), and Ca(Na)-SO₄(HCO₃) (Table 1). The cations of the samples of the springs nos. 1–5 occur in the LMSF zone were mainly distributed in the blocks 1, 2, and 4, and the anions were distributed in the blocks i and ii, which together formed 4 chemical types of Na(Ca)-HCO₃(SO₄), Ca(Na)-HCO₃(SO₄), Mg(Ca)-SO₄, and Ca(Mg)-SO₄. The cations of the samples of the springs nos. 6–9 occur in the MJF zone were mainly distributed in the blocks 3 and 4, the anions were distributed in the block i, and the chemical types for the samples were Ca(Mg)-HCO₃ and Mg(Ca)-HCO₃. Both of the cations and anions of the samples of the springs nos. 26–32 occur in the ANHF zone were distributed in the blocks i-ii and 1-2, these samples have the similar chemical type of Na(Ca)-HCO₃(SO₄). Half of the samples including the samples of the springs nos. 10–25 occur in the XSHF zone, the cations of these samples were distributed in the blocks 1, 2, and 5, with anions in the blocks i, ii, iii, and vi, and the chemical types were Na(Ca)-HCO₃(SO₄), Na(Mg)-HCO₃(SO₄), Na-Cl(HCO₃), and Ca(Na)-SO₄(HCO₃).

Figure 2: Ternary plots of the cation and anion for the waters.

5.1.2. The Origins

(1) δD and δ ¹⁸O. The values of δ ¹⁸O and δD of the 32 springs were plotted along the local meteoric water line (LMWL: δD = 7.06 δ ¹⁸O + 4.06) with different extent shifts from the LMWL (Figure 3), which indicated that the spring waters were mainly originated from meteoric water and with different extent alteration. The values of δ ¹⁸O and δD were plotted in three regions, the region I includes the samples of the springs no.1–3, with values of δD and δ ¹⁸O ranged from −82.13 to −61.66 and −11.75 to −6.18, the region III includes all the samples from the XSHF zone (springs nos. 10–25), with values of δD and δ ¹⁸O between −141.98 and −78.77, −18.84 and −10.04, respectively, and the others in the region II, with the values of δD and δ ¹⁸O ranging from −116.81 to −96.10 and −16.34 to −11.64 (Table 1). The values of δD and δ ¹⁸O of the springs nos.10–25 from the higher mountain area were more negative, while those of the springs nos. 1–3 collected in the lower altitude region were less negative, which is constant with the previous results [32].

Figure 3: Diagram of δ ¹⁸O versus δD of the waters. LMWL stands for the Local Meteoric Water Line: δD = 7.06 δ ¹⁸O − 4.06.

(2) Na(Ca)-HCO ₃(SO ₄), Na(Mg)-HCO ₃(SO ₄), and Na-Cl(HCO ₃) Waters. The water samples of the springs nos. 4-5, 10–23 and 25–32 were belong to these types (Table 1). The springs nos. 4-5, 13–23 and 25 occur in granite, while the springs nos. 10-11 in Late Triassic clastic rock interbeded with volcanic rocks. The spring no. 12 is found in Late Permian volcanic tuff, while the spring no. 26 in Sinian pyroclastic rock. The spring nos. 27–29 and 31 are found in Cretaceous clastic rock, the spring no. 30 in Early Triassic sandstone, and the spring no. 32 in Paleozoic mixed layer (Figure 1). The springs nos. 4-5, 10–23 and 25–32 occur in the rocks enriched in feldspar resulting in similar higher concentrations of Na⁺ and because of rock-water interaction. In addition, the samples from the springs nos. 5, 19, 23, and 32 were characterized by the similar concentrations of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and (Table 1), which should be attributed to the water-rock interactions between groundwater and Devonian carbonate (Figure 1). Cl⁻ is known to be conservative and derive from the deep earth mainly [33, 34]. The chemical type for the samples from the spring no. 16 was Na-Cl (HCO₃), with the Cl⁻ concentration as 328.54 mg/l (Table 1), which suggested the input of deep fluid. Meanwhile, the high ³He/⁴He ratio (between 1.43 and 3.73RA, RA = 1.39 × 10⁻⁶) [30] together with the high temperatures (between 80.0°C and 70.2°C) also are the evidences for the upwelling of the deep-earth fluids into the spring (Table 1).

(3) Ca(Na)-HCO ₃(SO ₄), Ca(Mg)-HCO ₃, Mg(Ca)-HCO ₃, and Ca(Na)-SO ₄(HCO ₃) Waters. These included the samples from the springs nos.1, 6–9, and 24 (Table 1). The spring no. 1 occurs in Jurassic carbonate interbedded with sandstone. The springs nos. 6 and 9 occur in Late Triassic clastic rock interbedded with carbonate. The springs nos. 7 and 8 occur in Middle Triassic clastic rock interbedded with carbonate, and the spring no. 24 is found in Carboniferous carbonate (Figure 1). The springs nos. 1, 6–9, and 24 occur in strata enriched in carbonate, so that the main components of the waters were Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and because of the interaction between the groundwater and carbonate. The samples of the springs nos. 8 and 9 have the same chemical type of Mg (Ca)-, and similar Ca/Mg ratios (0.54 and 0.86, Table 1), which can be attributed to the dissolution of calcite combined with the low temperatures of the springs nos. 8 and 9 (8.8°C and 9.0°C respectively) (Table 1).

(4) Mg(Ca)-SO ₄ and Ca(Mg)-SO ₄ Waters. The springs nos. 2 and 3 occur in Devonian to Silurian pyrite-bearing sale and marlite (Figure 1), from which the samples had higher concentration (878.08 mg/L and 812.50 mg/L, resp.) and TDS (1571.81 mg/L and 1195.08 mg/L, resp.), with the chemical types of Mg (Ca)-SO₄ and Ca (Mg)-SO₄ (Table 1), indicating interaction between carbonate and groundwater enhanced by the sulfate from the oxidation of pyrite [35].

5.2. Chemical Variations of the Spring Waters Associated with Seismic Activities

5.2.1. Temporal Variations

The hydrochemical data of the water samples showed evident trend of temporal variations.

The geochemical parameters of the samples nos. 1, 3–5 from the LMSF zone and the samples nos. 15 and 20 from the XSHF zone varriedby more than 20% one month after the Wenchuan earthquake, and similar variations happened after October 2008. The concentrations of Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻, , and TDS of the sample of the spring no. 1 decreased by 42%, 39%, 53%, 31%, and 35%, respectively; for the sample number 2, the decreasing amplitudes for the concentrations of Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻, , and TDS were 23%, 45%, 25%, 38%, 22%, and 33%, separately. The concentrations of Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, , and TDS of the sample from the spring no. 3 decreased by 33%, 42%, 95%, and 35%, respectively. The concentrations of Na⁺, , and TDS of the sample of the spring no. 4 decreased by 67%, 33% and 57%, respectively. For the sample of the spring no. 5, the concentrations of Na⁺, and TDS decreased by 25%, 41%, and 26%, respectively. The concentrations of Na⁺ and of sample of the spring no. 20 decreased by 28% and 26%, respectively. For the sample of the spring no. 15, however the concentrations of Na⁺, and TDS increased in 17 April 2010, with the amplitudes of 53%, 38%, and 38%, respectively. Meanwhile, the δ ¹⁸O-δD plots of the samples from the springs nos.1, 3, and 4 approached the LMWL (Local Meteoric Line) after sizeable shift in June 2008, and the similar variation happened for the spring no. 2 after October 2008 (Figure 3), which indicated gradual input decrease of deep-earth fluids that formed by water-rock reaction after the Wenchuan earthquake

The supplement of deep water characterized by higher mineralization and enriched in δ ¹⁸O is considered as a main factor for controlling pre- and co-seismic geochemical variations of the groundwater and springs [2, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 16, 36, 37]. The Coulomb stress in the middle-north segment of the LMSF zone, the southeast segment of the XSHF zone, and the south segment of the MJF zone had been enhanced, which resulted in the Wenchuan 8.0 earthquake [38, 39], and the geochemical variations of the samples from the springs nos. 1–5 and 20. Meanwhile, the input decrease of deep-earth water during the sampling period in which seismic activity decreased gradually. 747 aftershocks with higher than 4.0 occurred in the three fault zones, and most of which (including all the 12 events with amplitude ranged from 6.0 to 6.4) occurred before September 10, 2008 (China Earthquake Network Center, Figure 1). As the aftershock activities became weak, the TDS values of the samples from the springs nos. 1–5 and 20 decreased gradually to the normal value (Figure 4), indicating the supplement decrease of the deep-earth fluid as the Coulomb stress being released after the events as indicated by the data of oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions (Figure 3).

Figure 4: Temporal variations of the geochemical parameters of the 32 hot spring waters after the Wenchuan earthquake. The abscissas indicate the numbers of the samples and the ordinates indicate the ratios of each batch of samples with the first batch of samples.

Notably, the concentrations of Na⁺, , and TDS of the sample of the spring no. 15 increased by 53%, 38%, and 38% on April 17, 2010 (Figure 4), which was closely related to the 28 April 2010 an 5.4 aftershock 15 kilometers epicenter distance to the spring no. 15 (Figure 1). Therefore, it can be infered that the hydrogeochemical variations of the spring no. 15 might be the short-term hydrogeochemical precursors for the 5.4 event.

The geochemical parameters of the samples from the springs nos. 16-17 and 19 about 200 kilometers showed evident increase trend before the Wenchuan earthquake [20, 24, 25]. The K⁺ concentrations of the samples of the springs nos. 16-17 and 19 increased by 19.3% to 54.4% before the main shock, and rapidly decreased to the normal values after the main shock. The concentrations of for the samples from the springs nos. 16 and 19 increased by 32.0% and 59.6% respectively before the earthquake, and then dropped to the normal value after the main shock (Figure 5). The springs nos. 16-17 and 19 occur in the intersection of the LMSF, XSHF and ANHF zones where the extrusion stress increased yearly from 2004 to 2007 before the Wenchuan earthquake [40, 41]. Therefore, the increase of K⁺ and concentrations for the samples of the springs nos.16-17 and 19 could be attributed to the more supplement of the deep fluids with higher concentrations of K⁺ and [42], The ³He/⁴He ratios of the samples from the springs nos. 16-17 and 19 increased before the Wenchuan earthquake, but showed a remarkable drop after the shock, and then became normal indicating the more supplement of mantle-derived fluids before the main shock [30].

Figure 5: Temporal variations of concentration of K⁺ and . Black squares: waters collected from the Guanding spring; black cycles: waters collected from the Longtougou spring; black triangles: waters collected from the Erdaoqiao spring; the dashed vertical line: the time of the occurrence of the Wenchuan earthquake.

5.2.2. Spatial Variations

The geochemical and isotopic compositions of the samples from the springs nos. 1–5 occur in the LMSF zone performed evident variation after the Wenchuan earthquake, with the highest amplitude as 95% for of the sample from the spring no. 5. However, for the other samples from the other fault zones, just the samples from the springs nos. 15 and 20 presented obvious geochemical variations, with the highest amplitude as 53% for Na⁺ of the sample from the spring no. 15 (Figure 4). The Wenchuan earthquake happened in the LMSF zone, which enhanced the Coulomb stress of the zone [38, 39], and with most of the aftershocks occurred there (Figure 1). For the springs nos. 1–5 occurred in the LMSF zone, the epicenter distances are between 50 and 110 kilometers, which are smaller than those of the hot springs nos. 6-32 (between 190 and 410 km). Therefore, the variation of the tectonic stress induced by the Wenchuan earthquake and the aftershocks may resulted in, the geochemical and isotopic variations for the springs nos. 1–5 after the Wenchuan earthquake.

6. Conclusions

120 water samples of the 32 hot springs in the western Sichuan have been analyzed after the Wenchuan earthquake. The following conclusions can be drawn.

(1)The waters of the 32 springs were mainly derived from meteoric precipitation. Because of the isotopic elevation effect, the δD and δ ¹⁸O of the samples from the higher mountain area were lower, but those of samples from the lower altitude region were higher. all of the analyzed water samples from the 32 springs can be classified into nine chemical types: Na(Ca)-HCO₃(SO₄), Na(Mg)-HCO₃(SO₄), Ca(Na)-HCO₃(SO₄), Mg(Ca)-SO₄, Ca(Mg)-SO₄, Ca(Mg)-HCO₃, Mg(Ca)-HCO₃, Na-Cl(HCO₃), and Ca(Na)-SO₄(HCO₃), which were mainly controlled by water-rock interaction and the input of deep fluid.(2)The concentrations of K⁺ and of the samples of the springs nos.16-17 and 19 in the intersection of LMSF, XSHF, and ANHF varied evidently, with the amplitude ranging from 19.3% to 59.6% before and after the Wenchuan earthquake which may be attributed to the interfusion of the deep fluids with high K⁺ and induced by the increased tectonic stress.(3)The hydrogeochemical variations of the springs closer to the epicenter performed more obviously after the Wenchuan earthquake. As the aftershock activities became weak, the geochemical parameters of the samples from the springs nos. 1–5, 15, and 20 located in the regions where the tectonic stress was enhanced before the Wenchuan 8.0 earthquake decreased by more than 20%, and with the δ ¹⁸O the LMWL, which may be related to the change of tectonic stress when the aftershock activities became weak.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Seismological Bureau of Sichuan province and Professor Fang Du for helping in the field work. The authors sincerely thank the editor and reviewers for their valuable comments and grammar edits in improving the paper. This research was supported by the National Science and Technology Support Program (the characteristics of gas geochemistry of Longmenshan faults, WFSD-10), the Basic Science Research Plan of the Institute of Earthquake Science, China Earthquake Administration (The fluid geochemical survey of the mud volcanoes in the North of the Tianshan Mountain, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 02132417), and the Basic Science Research Plan of the Institute of Earthquake Science, China Earthquake Administration (02132417).

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